Philippines Conference Committee OKs Biofuels Act
24 November 2006
Inquirer. A congressional bicameral conference committee approved the proposed Biofuels Act of 2006 which requires the use of alternative fuels in the Philippines. After ratification by the two chambers, the bill will be sent to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her signature.
The proposed Biofuels Act requires the use of biofuels, stating that all liquid fuels for motors and engines sold in the Philippines “shall contain locally produced biofuel components.”
Within two years of the law taking effect, the annual total volume of gasoline sold and distributed in the country will have to contain at least 5% bioethanol. That rises to a 10% requirement four years after the law taking effect.
A minimum of 1% biodiesel by volume will be blended into all diesel engine fuels as soon as the law takes effect, increasing to 2% within two years.
The sale of biofuels will be zero-rated for the VAT (value-added tax).
“We have the means to ride on the alternative fuels boom. We have 2.4 million hectares planted to corn, 3.2 million hectares to coconut, 390,000 hectares to sugarcane, 330,000 to cassava and camote,” [Rep. Juan Miguel] Zubiri [the main author of the biofuels bill] said.
“If we don’t have oil to drill, then we must grow oil from our soil. The lambanog that causes drunk driving can also run cars. Cassava is best not just as pie but petrol. And corn that can be made into healthy breakfast can also fuel our cars,” he said.
Six companies reportedly are investigating ethanol plants.
They could most certainly use the sugarcane for ethanol, use enzymes for the cellulose in the stalks and gasify any lignin left over. They might be able to reach an E10 target easily.
Posted by: SJC | 25 November 2006 at 11:16 AM
With Indonesia, Malaysia and India, already actively pursuing biofuel production in South and South-East Asia, I suppose the real question is what took the Philippines so long to get started? Will other nations in region follow suit? Will they resort to clear-cutting virgin rainforest in the process?
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HE18Ae02.html
Btw: Australia theoretically has the potential for massive biofuel production. It would need to figure out how to use the waste heat from its power plants (mostly coal-fired) to thermally desalinate ground and sea water and, adopt Israeli-style drip irrigation techniques. Alternatively, oil algae species that can tolerate salt water could be leveraged, perhaps even in sections of the ocean that are merely cordoned off with skirts (maybe 10' deep) and enriched with CO2-rich scrubbed flue gas near the surface.
Posted by: Rafael Seidl | 25 November 2006 at 03:45 PM
I am strongly agree with that proposed bill concerning the use of biodiesel as one of the components in motors and engine's diesel. May this bill be approved by madam president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. We are looking forward that this would benefit our local farmers to increase their production and cultivate their soil for coocnut trees and corns. To lessen the effect of air pollution and decrease the importation of diesel from Arab countires. Its high time to patronize our own resources. May this bill be passed so that agricultural, economic and environmental effect be greatly enhanced to our country.
Posted by: emman | 12 December 2006 at 04:13 AM